But what about when it comes to news?
I can’t think of a word that would better work in “Stupid gun news of the day.”
Labelling a poster, or a post, as stupid, rather than pointing out the flaws and demerits of that post is lazy at best.
But to categorize all the reports of people doing, well, stupid things with their guns needs some sort of derogatory word associated with it. IMHO, of course.
Excellent point. That’s a great use of the word, IMHO.
I was born in 1972, a teen in the late 80s. My primary and middle schools had a special ed class with children with severe cognitive disabilities. My cousin was one of them. Anyone who used the word then was garbage.
Just to check: is there any advantage anyone can think of to keep the word “retard” around without sanctions on those who use it or its variations as a term of disparagement?
Agree to disagree.
I went to a private school in the 1980s, and I was sensitive to these things to an extent, but I probably used the word a few times — whereas my son is in a public school right now, and one of the best things about that is his daily interaction with neuro-atypical kids.
So, as I said above, he’s more hip to this than I was at his age.
But “trash”? Eh. We’re here to fight ignorance. It will take a lot longer than we thought, if we dismiss ignorance with such a broad and scathing brush.
Sorry, the former; the original Latin term is “niger”. Also the word “neger” is part of English, derived from the same source, but I’ve never heard it actually used in practice.
ETA: The term “niggard” is derived from a Scandinavian term and is totally unrelated though it is pronounced very similarly (and is usually considered offensive due to that similarity).
I mean, I can only thank god that I’m not the same person I was back then. Retarded? Yeah, I used it. Along with all of the other slurs listed in this thread.
According to Wiki, niggardly comes from Old Norse. Maybe there is a connection in archaic Indo-European, but I doubt it.
All I can say is that even as a teen I did not and neither did my circle of friends.
Yes, I knew that but given it’s a term that I never think about, it had slipped my mind.
Pardon me for weaseling on this one, but I am both for and against, although more in the ‘for’ category.
The term is harmful, offensive, and demeaning in comparing people who chose to do foolish things to people who have no choice in their physical/intellectual/emotional development. Using it casually is wrong, and I feel no issues in judging people who use the terms freely and casually.
The against is broken up to two issues, one general and one board specific.
In general, I, like probably everyone, wouldn’t use the term or it’s derivatives in thinking speech, but have been known to use them, or equally offensive ones (I -STILL- catch myself using terms like ‘gyp’ and then immediately apologizing for it), when speaking quickly especially in moments of passion. And that applies even when on boards where I’m typing a half page long screed. And since we cannot easily delete our posts, and may miss it during the editing window, or only catch it when we re-read the thread days/weeks/months later, it seems like a hard ban would be problematic. I would though support it being noted, and if (like a lot of offenses here) it became a common theme for specific posters, it could escalate to a warning BUT…
That brings me to the technical issue specific to the board. I always try to take to heart a comment from @What_Exit to me some time ago, the mods are a VERY limited resource. There are countless new, unzombied, or ongoing threads every day that are generating countless flags. Sometimes it lulls, sometimes (see the thread in ATMB about gun debates) faster than the posts themselves! And that leaves out the kneejerk belligerence that often shows up here the moment a mod notes someone on behavior. Which of course, consumes more time.
Back to usage on the term in question, I think it should continue to be discouraged, and if the mechanics of mod time/energy allow (they’re in the thread anyway as a reader) to be officially discouraged (maybe as the “not even a note, but please don’t” comment I see from time to time). I also suggest that we the posters have the tools at our disposal in said threads to call out the usage of the term, and perhaps the well-intended among us using it in the heat of the moment can continue to improve ourselves. If people are bound and determined to continue using it, well then, it’s easy to point out said trend to the mods to then take more formal action.
Sorry for the book all.
Are we talking about calling someone a ‘retard’, or describing someone or something as ‘retarded’? Or both?
I mean both. There is no distinction, just as saying something is “niggery” isn’t okay.
Ok, just clarifying. I thought it had been considered offensive for a very long time, but increasing in degree over that time just like other words that get worked out of the language. It’s been long enough now.
Can someone please show me the kids that are being hurt by this? My son is on the spectrum and he uses that word. And so does his friends that are also on the spectrum.
I don’t recall them using that word on people, but they will definitely call situations “retarded”.
Here’s a post from today that, I think, uses “stupid” well (several times):
</removed insulting thread link WE?>
Sorry, that wasn’t the post. It’s this one (from that thread), by Riemann:
“ He has an equally idiotic misconception of language, that words have no objective meaning, that they mean nothing more nor less than the subjective intent of the specific speaker. What derives from that obviously stupid premise are a whole lot of stupid but stubborn conclusions that mean any engagement with him in any language thread (whether theoretical, or related to SDMB policy) is invariably confusing and counterproductive.
But it’s notable that both his legalistic view of morality expressed here and his stupid misconception of the nature of language converge on a conclusion that racism is okay.”
Plenty of folks use insults casually, often without thinking of the deeper meanings (I certainly didn’t when I was younger), but I have found that persons in and of a group sometimes use it amongst themselves more freely. There are similar terms used amongst groups that they would not allow an outsider to use.
Become the language police in The Pit is definitely inviting a slippery slope.
Went and saw Doug Stanhope last weekend. Good show. Heres a bit he did in the past on this very issue:
Video is NSFW
I’m also curious where was this thread when the phrase "Shut up Big-Tard! Was coined?
Because nobody seemed to have a problem with that.